Happiness vs Joy

James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” ​

Count it joy to experience trials! What?! When we read the word “joy,” we think the word “happiness”. I should be happy that I’m going through these trials?! No, that’s not what he says. Count it JOY. ​

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The difference between happiness and joy is that you find joy in your faith rooted in Christ. Happiness at times will overflow from that. The circumstances will change. “I got a new house, I got a new car, hey it’s fall and Starbucks is serving pumpkin spice lattes. I’m happy!” But then when the season is over, they’re no longer serving it, I’m not happy anymore. Don’t base your happiness on Starbucks!

Pastor Jeff at Crossroads was a big fan of a pastor who’s now died, named Adrian Rogers. Pastor Jeff in Ohio would always say, “I honestly believe when I hear God speak, He’s going to sound like Adrian Rogers.” Here’s what Dr. Rogers said about joy versus happiness:

Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.